Drama in Senkadagala

By D.C. Ranatunga
IN eight months, Sri Lanka marks the completion of 200 years since the capitulation of the Kandyan kingdom and the British taking control over the entire country. It was an epoch-making event in the history of Sri Lanka. While it saw the end of the country being ruled by local monarchs, it also marked the end of a feudal society and the emergence of a new social structure.
On 2 March 1815, the Kandyan kingdom was formally ceded to the British by its chieftains by signing the Kandyan Convention. Governor Robert Brownrigg signed it on behalf of the British government. It had been drafted by John D’Oyley, an expert in Kandyan affairs who had built up an efficient intelligence network and was in communication with the chieftains who were against the king.
The King, Sri Vickrema Rajasinghe, the last in the list of Sinhala rulers, had fled the capital but was captured on 18 February 1815. A detachment of British troops had been sent to Dumbara where he was supposed to have been hiding. Accompanying the detachment were D’Oyley and Ehelepola, the first Adigar.
Henry Marshall, British medical surgeon vividly describes the capture of the king in ‘Ceylon – A General Description of the Island and Its Inhabitants’ thus: “The king was taken prisoner with two of his wives in the house of a subordinate head man, about a mile beyond. His two remaining wives and his mother were at Hangwelle, a short distance off; and being sent for, with conveyances and escort, were brought to Teldeniya to join the king. It appears that the few Malabar attendants remaining with the king made some resistance, and wounded one of the assailants under the command of Eheylapola, on which the party fired upon the house. The king then appeared and delivered himself up. His pursuers forthwith bound and plundered him of whatever articles of value he had in his possession.
“Next morning, Mr.D’Oyley found him in company with his mother, his wives and other members of his family, who were all in great consternation and affliction, fearing that some greater evil might befall them. Mr. D’oyley assured them that they should be treated with respect and attention. The King was, at first, reserved; but being informed that he should meet with kind treatment, he betrayed evident signs of emotion, and taking the hands of his aged mother and four wives, he presented them in succession to Mr. D’Oyley and commended them, in the most solemn and affecting manner, to his protection.”
The King had ruled for 17 years, having ascended the throne in August 1798 following the death of King Rajadhi Rajasinghe (1782-98) of a malignant fever. Like his predecessor Kirti Sri Rajasinghe (1747-82), he also didn’t have children or any other obvious successor. The first Adigar, Pilima Talauve was the most powerful man in the royal court. He was supposed to be of royal ascent himself but he didn’t press to become king. Yet he wanted be the power behind the throne. He had the advantage of maintaining cordial relations with the British who, in 1796 had taken over from the Dutch and were gradually moving towards consolidating their hold over the country.
Muttusami, a brother of three of the Rajadhi Rajaisnghe’s queens, claimed to have been nominated by the king to succeed him. Pilima Talauve didn’t want that to happen. He put him and the sisters in confinement and chose Kandasami – a lad of eighteen, a Ceylon born Nayakkar – to ascend the throne. Watching on were other influential chieftains including Ehelepola and Molligoda.
The ascendency of the new ruler as Sri Vickrama Rajasinghe was to be a turning point in the history of Sri Lanka. By then the Nayakkar dynasty was well entrenched as the ruling house. Eminent historian Dr. K.M. de Silva says that the dynasty had identified itself with the Kandyan national interest and blended the Nayakkar personality with the Kandyan background with consummate skill.
“Its policy of transforming itself into an indigenous dynasty whose claims to that status were accepted by the people had proved to be so successful that a restoration of a Sinhalese dynasty was not a viable policy even against the background of a disputed succession such as that of 1798. Besides, assuming that such a restoration was possible, there is little reason to believe that Pilima Talauve’s was an acceptable choice. An overt attempt by him in this direction might well have set off a revolt of other potential Kandyan claimants and torn the country apart.”
Conspiracy and cruelty soon began to dominate the scene. On the one hand, brutal scenes like the killing of the Ehelepola family were witnessed. John D’Oyly plotted with the chieftains to annex the Kandyan kingdom. Overall a dark age emerged.
The taking over of the up-country kingdom by the British was a disappointment for the Kandyan chieftains who expected to wield power. Some lost their high-ranking posts. Others paid with their lives. Yet others like Ehelepola were banished.
The victors were the British who used the disunity among the chiefs to their advantage. They were now having sway over the entire country. Many are the tales woven round the events of this period. Some are myths and legends. Others are with historical evidence. The historian and the researcher have a tough task in assessing them.
The eminent script writer Dr. Tissa Abeysekera has spent time and energy in sorting out fact and fiction to produce an interesting historical tale. Possibly he had in mind the cleverness of Film Director Sudath Rohana to turn his script into an interesting cinematic creation. Serenity Entertainments has now stepped in to make a film of this epoch-making period.
To continue the story of the captured king, he was brought down to Colombo without passing through Kandy by Major Hook. The king and the family arrived in Colombo on 6 March and were received by Colonel Kerr, the commandant of the garrison, with respect. A spacious house was provided for their stay. “He was obviously well pleased with his new abode and upon entering it, observed, ‘As I am no longer permitted to be a king, I am thankful for the kindness and attention which have been shown to me’,” states Henry Marshall. On 24 January 1816, he, along with relations and dependents, was sent to Madras and finally to Vellore.
– The images are recent creations by Prasanna Weerakkody